Jan 24 e-wasted

The world generated 44.7 million tonnes of electronic waste, equivalent to 6.1 kilogram per inhabitant, in 2016. This is set to rise to over 52 million tonnes – or 6.1 kilogram per inhabitant – by 2021 by 2021, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor report.

And worldwide, just 8.9 million tonnes of e-waste is actually collected and recycled, corresponding to one-fifth of all e-waste generated.

The total value of e-waste raw materials was €55 billion in 2016, and the report argues for the adoption of circular economy models to encourage closing the loop through better design of components, recycling and re-use.